Ray Bradbury on TV Part Eight: Alfred Hitchcock Presents/The Alfred Hitchcock Hour-Overview/Episode Guide/Rankings

"And So Died Riabouchinska"

by Jack Seabrook

Ray Bradbury had a hand in five episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and two episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Three of the half-hour episodes had teleplays by Bradbury that were based on his stories ("Shopping for Death," "Design for Loving," and "Special Delivery"), while one of the hour episodes did as well ("The Life Work of Juan Diaz"). One half-hour episode was adapted by another writer from a Bradbury story ("And So Died Riabouchinska"), while one hour episode followed the same pattern ("The Jar"). Finally, one half-hour episode was adapted by Bradbury from a story by another writer ("The Faith of Aaron Menefee").

"Special Delivery"

The Bradbury episodes had many highlights: the camerawork in "Shopping for Death" and the performance of Jo Van Fleet; Claude Rains's wonderful work in "And So Died Riabouchinska"; the impressive split screen effects and Norman Lloyd's performance in "Design for Loving"; the creepy feeling and spooky camerawork in "Special Delivery"; and Sidney Blackmer's star turn in "The Faith of Aaron Menefee." "The Jar" is the better of the two hour episodes and has wonderful performances and a great score by Bernard Herrmann; Herrmann's score is also a highlight of "The Life Work of Juan Diaz," as is the performance by Frank Silvera.

Episode Guide:

Episode title-“Shopping for Death”
Series-Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Broadcast date-29 January 1956
Teleplay by-Ray Bradbury
Based on-“Shopping for Death” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-MacLean's 1 June 1954
Notes
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Available on DVD?-Yes

"The Jar"

Episode title-“And So Died Riabouchinska”
Series-Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Broadcast date-12 February 1956
Teleplay by-Mel Dinelli
Based on-“And So Died Riabouchinska” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-The Saint Detective Magazine June-July 1953
Notes
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Available on DVD?-Yes

"Design for Loving"

Episode title-“Design for Loving”
Series-Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Broadcast date-9 November 1958
Teleplay by-Ray Bradbury
Based on-“Marionettes, Inc.” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-Startling Stories March 1949
Notes
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Available on DVD?-Yes

Episode title-“Special Delivery”
Series-Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Broadcast date-29 November 1959
Teleplay by-Ray Bradbury
Based on-“Boys! Grow Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar!” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-Galaxy October 1962
Notes
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Available on DVD?-Yes

"Shopping for Death"

Episode title-“The Faith of Aaron Menefee”
Series-Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Broadcast date-30 January 1962
Teleplay by-Ray Bradbury
Based on-“The Faith of Aaron Menefee” by Stanley Ellin
First print appearance-Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine September 1957
Notes
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Available on DVD?-No

Episode title-“The Jar”
Series-The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Broadcast date-14 February 1964
Teleplay by-James Bridges
Based on-“The Jar” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-Weird Tales November 1944
Notes
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Available on DVD?-No

"The Life Work of Juan Diaz"

Episode title-“The Life Work of Juan Diaz”
Series-The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Broadcast date-26 October 1964
Teleplay by-Ray Bradbury
Based on-“The Life Work of Juan Diaz” by Ray Bradbury
First print appearance-Playboy September 1963
Notes
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Available on DVD?-No

"The Faith of Aaron Menefee"

And finally, rankings (from best to worst):

Alfred Hitchcock Presents:

“The Faith of Aaron Menefee”
“Special Delivery”
“Shopping for Death”
“Design for Loving”
“And So Died Riabouchinska”

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour:

“The Jar”
“The Life Work of Juan Diaz”

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